Percy geikie donald



. P. G. DONALD. GRAVITY AND ME RUNWAY. I APPLICATION FILED MAY 29, I9!! 1 ,323, 1 7 1 Patented Nov. 25, 1919.

PERCY GEIKIE DONALD, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

GRAVITY AND LIKE RUNWAY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 28, 1918. Serial No. 237,159.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PERCY Gninin Don- ALD, a subject of the King of Great Britain and Ireland, of 225 Upper Thames street, London, E. Q, England, have invented new and useful Improvements in Gravity and like Runways, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to gravity runways, or other runways to which it is suitable, of the kind in which the track is formed of rollers mounted transversely between two side members. Such runways are often made in lengths which are more or less port able, and one of the objects of my present improvements is to render them still more portable, and, therefore cheaper and easier to handle, by making them of lighter construction. At the same time, I do not sacrifice anything in strength, but on the contrary, my improved runway is stronger than the original kind.

A further object, which is perhaps incidental but none the less useful, is to shield the external parts of the spindle or bearings (as well as any nuts or projects upon the outer faces of the side girders) from catching into the goods which are traveling along the runway, more especially soft goods such as sacks, parts of which have a tendency to overhang the side edges of the runway, and even to drag along the same to a greater or less extent. The protective shield by which I seek to counteract this objection not only protects the heads of bolts, nuts or spindle ends from fouling the movement of such goods, but it presents a smooth track, along which any portion of the goods which mayhappen to overlap, may slide with the minimum of frictional resistance or injury.

Briefly describing my invention, the side members, instead of being made from rolled angle iron are formed out of sheet steel, stamped or pressed to a section resembling an 'L combined with a round hook curved outward and downward upon the top of the vertical portion. Such hook may be of relatively small size, with the convexity upward. The vertical portion, corresponding to the web in a girder, has holes in it for holding the ends of the spindles of the rollers, and

the hook or curve forms a kind of shield or eave, which effectually prevents any projections from obstructing the free passage of the goods across the series of rollers. The vertical portion also may be made of such a height as to permit the spindles to be adjusted to a diflerent level, for instance, where larger or smaller rollers are to be substituted for any purpose.

I do not confine my invention, however, to the particular shape of hook, curve or shield as described. If preferred, it could be merely a flat flange, or rectangular, conical or of any other convenient shape in section. 7

As one of the advantages of my improved runway is its extreme'lightness, it may be stated that an 8 foot length of an existing runway weighs 112 lbs., whereas in my present design or construction the weight is only 70 lbs. This includes the weight of the end pieces.

An example of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, which shows the same in an end view, only one side being represented with part of the end of a roller. The opposite side and roller end would be symmetrical with this View.

The side member in the form illustrated comprises a vertical main portion or web G which merges into an outwardly curved flange K upon the top, while the bottom is formed into a horizontal flange L preferably directed inward. The height of the web G is great enough to allow for either a substitution of a much thicker roller than the roller F which is shown, or else for the axle C to be passed through it at a lower level than the drawing indicates.

The method of fastening the axle C in the web G, as drawn, is to pass a pin or cotter J through a hole in the former, after having passed a ferrule H on to the projecting end of the axle, said ferrule having a flange H which takes the thrust against the side of the web G, and the ferrule may further be slotted as at H in its tubular porion to facilitate the insertion of the pin or cotter J. Other methods of fastening the axle, however, may be adopted, if preferred.

I claim Patented- Nov. 25, 1919.

In a gravity and like runway, side girders stitute a protective shield and at the same 7 time present a smooth round track for the overhanging portions of the conveyed articles to slide upon.

PERCY GEIKIE DONALD. 

